Grevillea hybrid plant named &#39;RR01&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Grevillea  hybrid cultivar named ‘RR01’ which is characterized by a very prostrate growth habit with a vigorous growth rate, dark green pinnatisect foliage with red immature branches, racemose inflorescence typical of the species with approximately 30 to 50 florets, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Australian Plant Breeder'sRights application number 2015/075, filed on Apr. 14 2015, which isherein incorporated by reference.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosedherein is Grevillea hybrid.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The inventive variety of Grevillea hybrid disclosed herein has beengiven the variety denomination ‘RR01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: In July 2004, a unique Grevillea seedling was discovered bythe inventor at his commercial nursery in Kalaru, New South Wales,Australia. The seedling exhibited a very vigorous growth rate, aprostrate growth habit, and pinnatisect leaves. The seedling waspresumed to be an interspecific cross of Grevillea hybrid ‘PoorindaRoyal Mantle’ (unpatented) and Grevillea hybrid ‘Bronze Rambler’(unpatented), because the two varieties were being grown in closeproximity and the new seedling exhibited characteristics of eachvariety. The new seedling was isolated and grown to a mature size toconfirm the distinctness and stability of the characteristics initiallyobserved. After further evaluation and confirmation of the desirabletraits, the claimed plant was selected for commercialization and giventhe breeder denomination, ‘RR01’.

Asexual Reproduction: ‘RR01’ was first asexually reproduced by way ofsoftwood stem cuttings in 2005 at the inventor's nursery in Kalaru, NewSouth Wales, Australia. It was found to grow uniform and reproduce in astable manner and 10 successive cycles of vegetative propagation haveproven to be true to type also.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed andrepresent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Grevilleacultivar ‘RR01’. These traits, in combination, distinguish ‘RR01’ as anew and distinct cultivar.

1. Grevillea hybrid ‘RR01’ exhibits a very prostrate growth habit; and

2. Grevillea hybrid ‘RR01’ exhibits a very vigorous rate of growth; and

3. Grevillea hybrid ‘RR01’ exhibits dark green foliage with red immaturebranches; and

4. Grevillea hybrid ‘RR01’ exhibits broad, pinnatisect foliage; and

5. Grevillea hybrid ‘RR01’ exhibits a racemose inflorescence, typical tothat of the genus, with 30 to 50 red florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE

The figure illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible tomake the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary 2 year old‘RR01’ plant grown outdoors in Clarendon, New South Wales, Australia.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinctvariety of a Grevillea hybrid ornamental plant known as ‘RR01’. Plantobservations were made on plants grown in Clarendon, New South Wales,Australia. Unless indicated otherwise, the descriptions disclosed hereinare based upon observations made from 2 year-old mature ‘RR01’ plantsgrown outdoors in full sun. Plants were not fertilized and wereperiodically watered with overhead irrigation, as needed. No pest anddisease measures were taken. Observation data was recorded in the Marchof 2016.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, younger plants. ‘RR01’ has not beenobserved under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions,sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to beunderstood that such characteristics are approximations or averages setforth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety mayvary with variations in the environment such as season, temperature,light intensity, day length, cultural conditions and the like. Colornotations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, 2003 edition except where commonterms of color are used.

A botanical description of ‘RR01’ and comparisons with the presumedparents are provided below.

-   General plant description:    -   -   Plant habit.—Prostrate; flat and spreading.        -   Height.—Approximately 200 mm.        -   Width.—Approximately 200 cm.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 9 to 11.        -   Environmental tolerances.—‘RR01’ has not yet been observed            under all conditions but has shown to be heat tolerant,            adapting well to temperatures of 103 degrees Fahrenheit            without any noticeable damage. It has survived light to            moderate frosts and temperatures down to 22 degrees            Fahrenheit.        -   Drought tolerance.—‘RR01’ has not yet been observed under            all conditions but it has shown good drought tolerance            typical of the species once established.        -   Pest and disease susceptibility or resistance.—In common            with the species.        -   Propagation.—Propagation is accomplished using softwood            cuttings.        -   Time to develop roots.—4 to 5 weeks.        -   Crop time.—From 10 to 12 weeks are needed to produce a fully            rooted cutting, depending on geographic location.-   Root system:    -   -   Description.—Shallow system of proteoid roots, consisting of            tight groupings of many small rootlets.-   Stems:    -   -   Branching habit.—Single main stem which freely branches;            numerous prostrate secondary branches.        -   Stem strength.—Strong.        -   Dimensions.—Main stem to 20 mm diameter, many laterals 3 to            5 mm in diameter.        -   Cross-section.—Round.        -   Internode length.—Approximately 35 mm.        -   Color.—Immature stems are closest to RHS 175B, and mature            stems are greyed-brown 199A.        -   Texture and pubescence.—Smooth and corky; very finely            pubescent with silky hairs.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Shape.—Both lanceolate and pinnatisect leaves are observed.        -   Length.—Approximately 95 mm for both pinnatisect and            lanceolate leaves.        -   Width.—34 mm on pinnatisect leaves, and 24 mm on lanceolate            leaves.        -   Thickness.—0.9 mm.        -   Apex.—Mucronate.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire (lanceolate leaves) to deeply lobed            (pinnatisect leaves).        -   Texture and pubescence, adaxial surface.—Finely textured and            glabrous.        -   Texture and pubescence, abaxial surface.—Finely textured,            with dense fine hairs.        -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — RHS 144A.            Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — RHS 192C. Mature            foliage, adaxial surface — RHS 137A. Mature foliage, abaxial            surface — RHS 192A.        -   Venation.—Pattern — Reticulate. Vein color, adaxial surface            — 193A Vein color, abaxial surface — 193A.        -   Petiole.—Dimensions — 10 mm long and 1.2 mm in diameter.            Color — 175A. Texture and pubescence — Smooth and finely            pubescent. Stipules — None.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Terminal and axillary racemes with clusters of            approximately 30 to 50 flowers.        -   Natural flowering season.—Spring to summer in the southern            hemisphere.        -   Dimensions.—Dimensions vary but a mature terminal raceme is            up to 60 mm in length, from the base of the peduncle to the            stigma of the terminal-most flower, and approximately 50 mm            wide, from style to style of the most outstretched lateral            flowers.        -   Quantity.—Moderately floriferous.        -   Peduncle.—Dimensions — 25 mm long and 1.3 mm wide. Attitude            — Lateral to stem approximately; approximately 30 degrees            from horizontal. Color — RHS 175B. Texture and pubescence —            Smooth and corky; very finely pubescent with silky hairs.            Strength — Strong.-   Bud:    -   -   Dimensions.—9 mm long and 3 mm in diameter.        -   Shape.—Narrowly oblong and clubbed at the distal end.        -   Color.—RHS 181A.        -   Pubescence.—Finely pubescent.-   Flower:    -   -   Pedicels.—Dimensions — 2.5 to 3 mm long and 1.0 mm wide.            Color — RHS 175B. Texture and pubescence — Smooth and corky;            very finely pubescent. Strength — Strong.        -   Perianth.—        -   General description.—Small, pedicellate floret with a closed            perianth which creates a floral tube made up of two dorsal            and two ventral tepals, which terminate at their apex and            form a ball-like “tepal limb” which house the anthers.        -   Quantity of flowers.—30 to 50 flowers per inflorescence.        -   Sequence and rate of opening.—Racemose; sequential proximal            to distal, moderate around 5 days from first to last on each            inflorescence.        -   Persistence.—Not persistent.        -   Fragrance.—Not fragrant.        -   Aspect.—Erect.        -   Tepals.—Quantity — 4 fused tepals. Arrangement — Fused into            a tube. Dimensions — Perianth tube width is approximately 3            to 4 mm, with an average length of 10 mm. Texture,            pubescence and luster — Smooth, pubescent with fine, silky            hairs, and matte luster. Color when opening — RHS 52B. Color            when fully opened — RHS 52B. Petal color fading to — Not            fading.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity — Four Attachment — Adnate to the perianth            tube. Anthers — Shape — Irregularly triangular. Diameter —            1 mm. Color — RHS 12D. Pollen — Low to medium. Pollen Color            — RHS 155C.        -   Pistils.—Quantity — One. Dimensions — Approximately 27 mm            long and 1 mm wide. Stigma — Shape — Club-like. Color — RHS            145A. Style — Dimensions — 25 mm long and 1 mm wide. Color —            RHS 52B. Ovary — Position — Superior. Dimensions — 15 mm            long and 10 mm wide. Texture and pubescence — Smooth and            finely pubescent.-   Seed:    -   -   Quantity.—One.        -   Shape.—Ovoid with a thin papery wing that is approximately 1            mm wide.        -   Color.—Brown.        -   Dimensions.—10 mm long and 5 mm in diameter.-   Comparisons with the presumed parents and closest known variety:    ‘RR01’ may be distinguished from the presumed parent Grevillea    hybrid ‘Poorinda Royal Mantle’ (unpatented), which is also the    closest know commercial comparator, by the following combination of    characteristics: 1. The mature foliage of ‘RR01’ is dark green,    whereas the foliage of ‘Poorinda Royal Mantle’ is green and tinged    greyed-orange. 2. The mature foliage of ‘RR01’ is typically    pinnatisect, whereas the mature foliage of ‘Poorinda Royal Mantle’    is typically lanceolate to irregularly lobed. 3. Plants of ‘RR01’    grow to approximately 20 cm tall, whereas plants of ‘Poorinda Royal    Mantle’ grow to approximately 25 cm tall. ‘RR01’ may be    distinguished from the presumed parent Grevillea hybrid ‘Bronze    Rambler’ (unpatented) by the following combination of    characteristics: 1. Plants of ‘RR01’ are very prostrate, whereas    plants of ‘Bronze Rambler’ exhibit a semi-prostrate to low, mounded    habit. 2. While the mature foliage of both ‘RR01’ and ‘Bronze    Rambler’ is pinnatisect, the individual lobes of ‘RR01’ are broader    than those of ‘Bronze Rambler’.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Grevilleahybrid plant named ‘RR01’,substantially as described and illustratedherein.